This Is The Most Underrated Bluetooth Feature Everyone Should Be Using

Auracast audio-sharing tech is one of the best kept secrets in tech, and I still don’t understand why more companies aren’t embracing this killer Bluetooth feature. It’s a major upgrade to Bluetooth connectivity and how we use our personal audio devices in public spaces, and though it’s been out for a few years at this point, only a few of the best wireless earbuds and best Bluetooth speakers have adopted it. So if you’re shopping for the best audio gifts for music lovers this holiday season, keep an eye out for Auracast capabilities. The audiophile in your life will thank you.

For those unfamiliar, Auracast (formerly known as Audio Sharing) lets devices like earbuds, headphones, speakers, and hearing aids connect to a single source without the need for pairing. What this means in practice is that listeners can link into a broadcast to share whatever they’re watching or listening to with anyone using Auracast-compatible devices. Although Auracast has been slow to appear in consumer audio gear, it’s built into the latest Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) standard—the same update that introduced the LC3 codec for more efficient signal handling capabilities than “standard” SBC streams.

Outside the home, Auracast-enabled public transmitters can reportedly send audio over distances of more than 330 feet (about 100 meters), which could let you tune into announcements at airports and train stations or even sync audio from public display screens through your Bluetooth device. Since Aurocast makes it easy to tap directly into these broadcasts, it has the potential to improve auditory accessibility for people who are hard of hearing or simply help anyone pick out important information in a noisy environment.

Early Auracast adopters to shop

(Image credit: JBL)

JBL and Sennheiser are some of the few companies that go out of their way to promote Auracast capabilities in their products, to the point that some people mistakenly think the feature is exclusive to these brands. You can use Auracast on some of JBL’s best speakers like the Charge 6 and bass-heavy PartyBox Stage 320, as well as the company’s flagship headphones like the Tour One M3, which even ship with a dedicated Auracast transmitter. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 noise-canceling earbuds also support Auracast functionality.

Samsung is another top brand integrating Auracast receivers into its line. Auracast models include the Neo QLED 8K series of TVs, as well as the Galaxy Tab S8 tablet, and Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra smartphones. While it’s supported by Android 13 and 14, the number of Auracast receiving devices is still pretty low.

Meanwhile, there are a ton of companies quietly incorporating Auracast, but you’d never know it from their marketing. Sony has added Auracast-based Audio Sharing to its XM5 and XM6 headphones, and newer phones from Google and OnePlus support it as well, like the Pixel 10 and OnePlus 15.